Plan at a glance
Find the gate and parking first
Pule Temple is in Shuangqiao District, east of Mountain Resort and near Qingchuifeng National Forest Park. It is a separate temple among the sites around Mountain Resort, with one main entrance. Drivers can navigate to “Pule Temple” or “Pule Temple Parking Lot.”
Tickets and opening hours
A single ticket is listed at CNY 30 per person; the three-site ticket for Pule Temple, Qingchuifeng and Anyuan Temple is listed at CNY 50. Visitors aged 60 or older enter free; students pay half price; children under 6 or under 1.2 metres tall enter free. Tickets must be booked using a valid ID document. Advance purchase through an official channel or reputable travel platform is recommended. Overseas visitors should check whether their booking channel accepts passports or other travel documents. From May 1 to October 9, 2026, the temple opens at 08:00, stops ticket sales at 17:00, stops entry at 17:10 and closes at 18:00. From April 1 to 30, hours are 08:00–17:30; from October 10 to March 31, they are 08:30–17:00. Check the day’s notice for the spring and winter cut-off times.
How much time to allow
Allow about one hour for a short visit to the gate, Tianwang Hall, Zongyin Hall, Xuguang Pavilion and the mandala. A more relaxed visit takes about 1.5–2 hours, including the stele pavilion, the Chinese-style front courtyard, the mandala terrace and the distant views. The temple is built on a slope; do not add nearby sites if ticket sales or entry are about to stop.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Xuguang Pavilion
Xuguang Pavilion is the temple’s central circular hall, modelled on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. Climb to the rear terrace before entering the pavilion: the view shifts from the Tibetan-style mandala terrace to the round, gilded roof. Visitors interested in historic architecture or photography can make this their main stop.
The “Golden Dragon Playing with a Pearl” ceiling
Inside Xuguang Pavilion, layers of dougong brackets draw the coffered ceiling toward the centre, where a golden dragon hangs upside down with a pearl in its mouth. Photography of the ceiling and Buddha images inside the hall is prohibited. Take in the details in person; outside, photograph the pavilion’s round roof and the mandala terrace where permitted.
The wooden mandala and Chakrasamvara
Beneath the ceiling is a three-dimensional wooden mandala centred on an image of Chakrasamvara (胜乐金刚), a tantric Buddhist deity. This interior feature sets Pule Temple apart from a typical Chinese-style temple. Observe its layers, proportions and worship space quietly; do not approach for a photograph or cross any barrier.
Who will enjoy this visit
Pule Temple suits visitors interested in historic architecture, photography or the study of Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist architecture, as well as those looking for a quieter visit. The route is not long, but the steps and time needed to look inside matter. Older visitors or anyone with knee problems can take the short route. Buying the three-site ticket does not mean you must walk the surrounding mountain route in one go.
Build your day
The one-hour short route
Enter through the main gate and follow the central axis past Tianwang Hall and Zongyin Hall. Continue uphill to Xuguang Pavilion to see the “Golden Dragon Playing with a Pearl” ceiling and the wooden mandala, then return the way you came. This keeps the main buildings on one compact route and works well as a short stop near Qingchuifeng.
The 1.5–2-hour highlights route
Start in the Chinese-style front courtyard with the stele pavilion and halls. Climb to the Tibetan-style mandala terrace, walk around it for views of the five-coloured lama stupas and the surrounding landscape, then enter Xuguang Pavilion to see the coffered ceiling, wooden mandala and image of Chakrasamvara. Leave through the main gate and choose your return based on your parking location or bus stop.
Continue to nearby sites
From Pule Temple, Qingchuifeng National Forest Park is uphill to the east; Anyuan Temple is to the north and can be linked on foot using a map. The three sites are close, but their mountain paths, entrances and seasonal operating arrangements differ, so allow separate time for entry at each. If you have the three-site ticket, check each site’s ticket-sales and last-entry times before setting out.
Get there
By bus
In the city, take bus 6, 10, 26 or 28 and get off at “喇嘛寺” or “磬锤峰公园,” then walk to Pule Temple’s main gate. The stop is still some distance from the entrance. Check the current bus route and map before setting out, and make sure you do not mistake a neighbouring site’s entrance for Pule Temple’s gate.
By car and where to park
Navigate to “普乐寺停车场”; the listed parking charge is about CNY 10 per vehicle per visit. Nearby mountain roads are narrow and can be congested in peak season. Alternatively, park at Qingchuifeng National Forest Park and walk over, taking care to note your return direction.
Moving around after entry
The temple is explored on foot, climbing gradually from the Chinese-style front courtyard to the mandala and Xuguang Pavilion. Wear shoes with good grip and bring water for the steps. After the visit, use an open path to continue to Qingchuifeng or Anyuan Temple if they are operating; these are not routes within Pule Temple itself.
Know before you go
Booking, documents and seasonal hours
Tickets must be booked using a valid ID document, and advance online purchase is recommended. Prepare the documents specified by your booking channel. Visitors from overseas should check whether the selected channel accepts a passport or another travel document. Ticket-sales and last-entry cut-offs vary by season, so check the notice on the day. The temple involves uphill walking: see Xuguang Pavilion and the mandala first, then decide whether to continue to nearby sites.
Photography and drones
Photography of Buddha images and the coffered ceiling inside the halls is strictly prohibited. Follow on-site instructions; take pictures of the exterior platforms and courtyards only where permitted. Drones are prohibited throughout the scenic area. For views of Qingchuifeng, photograph only from ground-level areas open to visitors.
Offerings, guiding and meals
Be cautious if anyone pressures you to make a large offering by saying it shows greater sincerity. Lamps, flowers and other offerings are optional. Weekdays and weekend mornings are quieter times to look at the interior details. After the visit, return to the city for a meal at Qingyuanheng or on Erxianju Food Street.